The Blues will start the new season in front of their home crowd against the Wild on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. On DraftKings Sportsbook, St. Louis is a -125 Moneyline favorite, and the game’s total is set at O/U 5.5 goals.
Below, I’ll share my top preview, prediction and pick for tonight’s Central Division clash between the Blues and Wild.
Blues vs. Wild prediction, preview
The Blues were a very fun team last season, assembling a 12-game winning streak from mid-March to early-April that was enough to propel them into the playoffs after missing the mark the previous two seasons. A mid-season coaching change rejuvenated St. Louis, and play was increased at all levels of the ice. Entering 2025, the Blues have very little roster turnover and are looking to build off their strong play towards the end of last season.
Puck luck was on their side in 2024, as they ranked fifth in 5v5 goal percentage but 26th in 5v5 expected goals. Additionally, Jordan Binnington completely flipped his game during the second half of the season, ranking top-10 in both save percentage and GAA. It is likely that some negative regression is coming for the club soon.
On the other side is a Wild squad that is led by the most expensive player in NHL history, Kirill Kaprizov. The Russian winger signed a massive contract extension two weeks ago and is among the league’s best when he’s healthy. The thing is… Kaprizov played just 41 games in 2024, and the team around him has plenty of question marks. The Wild have dealt with injuries across the past few seasons, and their blue line may suffer to start the season, with Jonas Brodin still sidelined.
It’s possible that some young players break out and provide Kaprizov with ample support, however. That is still a big if, especially in what should be one of the most competitive divisions in hockey. Despite injuries, the goaltending stayed steady throughout, as Filip Gustavsson had a great bounce-back season, posting a .914 save percentage and 2.56 GAA. He was tied for the sixth-most wins and ranked 14th in goals saved above expected.
Blues vs. Wild pick, best bet
As I mentioned above, the Blues went on a 12-game winning streak late last season. But their dominance went even deeper than that, as they won their final 13 home games of the season. The St. Louis crowd was a big factor in the team’s success, and I’m getting similar vibes tonight. Minnesota went 3-1 against St. Louis last season, but prior to that, the Blues had won seven of the previous 11 meetings. 57% of the handle and 53% of the bets on DraftKings Sportsbook have been placed on the Blues Moneyline (-125), and I’m riding with the public.
